Table



E. A. FULLER May 11 TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1922 E. A. FULLER May 11:

TABLE Filed Oct. 16, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 11 1926. 1,584,364

E. A. FULLER TABLE Fil ed Oct. 16, 1922 h 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q6 87 V f v 2 J uoewtoz Emmy/1.2 02(6) Patented May 11, 1926 UNl'lED STATES EMORY A. FULLER, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

TABLE.

Application filed October 16, 1922. Serial No. 594,922.

This invention relates to tables and particularly to improvements in extension tables.

An object of the invention is to provide a table top composed of several sections which may be easily and readily spaced apart to acconnnodate a plurality of normally concealed extension leaves.

Another object is to provide simple and eilicient means for moving and guiding the leaves to raised position between the sections of the top while the same are being spaced apart, for supporting the leaves in raised position and for returning the leaves to concealed position when the sections of the top are moved together.

Another object is to provide a strong and durable table which is simple in construction and which can be mamifactured at a C0111- paratively low cost.

l Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangenient of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a table embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on lin 22 of F ignre l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1; I

Figure l is a sectional view taken on line 4i l of Figure 1;

Figure is a detail perspective view of the center port-ion of one side of the table;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing a slightly modified form of construction Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through a slightly modified form of construction Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of a portion of one side of the modified form of construction shown in Figure 7 Figure 9 is adetail sectional view of one of the slides and showing the adjacent ends of two of the rails; Y

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top of one of the slides.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the nun'ieral 1 designates the center section of the table including a section 2 of the table top and a fixed frame 3 supported upon a pair of legs 4. The section 2 of the top is located above the frame and is spaced therefrom by means of a pair of parallel metallic channehshaped slides 5. The lower flange G of each slide is removably secured to the frame as shown at 7, while the upper flange 8 is removably' secured to the section 2 of the top by means of screws 9. To prevent the top from splitting due to any shrinking or warping action, should unseasoned wood be used, the screws 9 extend through elongated openings 10 in the upper flange, the opposite edges of each opening being inwardly inclined as shown at 11 to accommodate the head of each screw. A pair of reinforcing bars 12 are removably secured by means of screws 13 to the section 2 of the top and have enlarged openings 14: to receive the screws to provide for shrinkage, etc, of the top. Each bar 12 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 15 which receives a depending rim 16 formed integral with the inner edge of each slide 5.

The end sections 17 and 18 of the table are adjustable with respect to the center section 1 and include the top sections 19 hinged at their outer ends to the frames 20. Metallic rails 21 and 21 are rigidly secured to the frames at the sides thereof and are telescopically arranged in the channelshaped slides 5. A plurality of legs 22 are detachably secured to the frames 20 and are connected by rods 23 to legs 2% slidably mounted upon a track 25 secured to the frame 3. In detail, a pair of spaced parallel bars 26 are secured to the frame 3 and extend longitudinally thereof. The legs 24tare provided with T-shaped bearings 27 at their upper ends and are movable in a longitudinally extending slot 28 formed in a plate 29 which is supported upon the bars 26.

The extension leaves are arranged in two sets 30 and 31 respectively, one leaf of each set being hingedly secured to the center section of the top. Each set consists of any desired number of leaves which are hingedly connected together by means of spaced flexible straps 32. The leaves have a tongue and groove engagement with each other,

and, as shown, the tongue 33 and groove 34 of each leaf extend the entire length thereof. The opposite ends of each leaf are cut away as shown at to provide a neat and pleasing appearance.

A pair of L-shaped metallic hooks 86 are removably secured to each leaf adjacent to the opposite ends thereof and have a sliding engagement with relatively long U shaped guides 87 integrally united to the rails 21 and 21 at the upper edges thereof. The hooks normally engage the lower sides 38 of the guides and thus support the leaves ina concealed position. The upper sides of the guides move between the upper flanges 8 of the slides and the bars 12 so that accidental disengagement of the rails from the slides is prevented. lVooden strips 39 are secured to the guides as shown at 40 to reinforce the same. The guides 37 and the reinforcing strips are cut away at their inner ends as shown at 41 and 42 respectively to accommodate the adjacent ends of the rails. In order to prevent the adjacent ends of the rails 21 and 21 from abutting each other when they aremoved inwardly after being pulled too far apart for any reason, the inner ends of the rails 21 are cut away as shown at 43 and the inner ends of two of the guides 37 are bent inwardly as shown at 44.

Movement of the end sections 17 and 18 outwardly relative to the center section 1 causes the hooks 3'6 to travel around the curved portions 45 of the guides and thus move the leaves upon the upper sides of the guides. Suitable cushioning means, such as strips of felt 46 are secured to the end sections of the top at the inner edges thereof and engage the leaves to deaden the noise while the end sections are being moved outwardly. The end sections are limited in their outward movement by. means of a pair of flexible straps 47 and 48 which extend through elongated openings 49 in the end frames 20 and are secured at one end to the center frame 3. The opposite end. of the strap 47 is secured to the set 80 of the leaves, while the opposite end of the strap 48 is secured to the set 31 of the leaves. Blocks 50 are secured to the sections 19 of the top above the openings 49 for raising the top sections 19 above the leaves while the said end sections are being moved relative to the center section.

"When the end sections are moved outwardly to the desired distance the sections 19 of the top may be lowered to permit the inner ends thereof to register with the outer sides of the adjacent leaves. The thickness of the leaves is such that when they are dis posed in raised position between the sections of the top, a flat surface will. be provided throughout the entire length of the table.

hen it is desired to move the end sections inwardly, the blocks 50 may be pressed upwardly to raise the sections 19 of the top and disengage the inner ends thereof from the sides of the adjacent leaves. The end sections 17 and 18 may then be moved inwardly until the frames 20 abut the spaced stops 51 secured to the center frame 3 whereupon the sections 19 of the top may be loW- ered to engage the ends of the center section 2 of the top.

The flexible straps 47 and 48 may be dispensed with, if desired, and as shown in the modification illustrated in Figure 6 spring tongues are pressed out of the upper flange 8 of the sides and are adapted to engage openings 61 formed in the guides 37 to limit the outward movement of the end sections.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 the center section of the table, including a section 71 of the table top and the metallic slides 72, are supported upon a pair of legs 7 The section 71 of the top is pivotally mounted upon apair of vertical uprights 74 which are slidably mounted upon the slides 72 intermediate the ends thereof. Metallic rails 75 are mounted on the slides 72 and are supported upon a plurality of legs 76. The end sections 77 of the top are secured to flanges 7 8 extending inwardly from the upper edges of the rails. The ends 79 of the table are also secured to flanges 80 extending inwardly from the ends of the rails.

The extension leaves are arranged in two sets 82 and 83 respectively, one leaf of each set being hingedly secured to the end sec= tions 77 of the top. The leaves of each set are provided with tongues 84 and grooves 85 and are hingedly secured to each other by means of flexible straps 86. A pair of L- shaped hooks 87 are removably secured to each.leaf and have a sliding-engagement with relatively long U-shaped guides 88 in tegrally united to the slides 72. The hooks normally engage the lower side 89 of each guide and thus support the leaves in a con cealed position. The upper side 90 of each guide supports the leaves when they are disposed in raised position between the sections of the top.

In the use of the modified form of the in vention, the center section 71 of the top is raised whenever it is desired to open or close the table to permit the leaves to travel around the guides. Outward movement of the end sections 77 will cause the leaves to move to raised position upon the upper sides of the guides, whereas movement of the end sections inwardly will cause the leaves to return to concealed position, the hooks then supporting the leaves upon the lower sides of the guides.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, l desire'to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to whendesired, as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an extension table, the combination with a fixed central frame and movable end frames having sliding connections with said center frames and adapted to be spaced therefrom, of top sections carried by said frames, a plurality of extension leaves adapted to be positioned between said top sections when said end frames are spaced from said center frame, stationary legs supporting said center frame, a longitudinally slotted plate secured. to said center frame, and legs connected to said end frames and slidably mounted in the slot of said plate.

2. In an extension table, a center frame and a pair of end frames movable to and from said center frame, a pair of supporting legs secured to each end frame at opposite sides of the longitudinal median plane of the table, a third supporting leg for each end frame, means rigidly connecting each third leg to the other two legs of the corresponding end frame, and a member carried by said center frame and formed with a slide-way engaged by both of said third legs.

3. In an extension table, two frames one of which is movable to and from the other,

a pair of supporting legs carried by each of said frames, one at each side of the common center line of the two frames, a third supporting leg between the two first-mentioned pairs of legs, means rigidly connecting the paired legs of one of said frames to said third leg, and a member carried by theother of said frames providing a slideway in which the third leg of the other frame travels during movement of said frames to or from each other.

4:. In an extension table, a center frame, a pair of end frames movable to and from said center frame, supporting legs carried by the end frames having their axes substantially in the longitudinal median plane of the table, and a member carried by said center frame providing a slide-way wherein said legs travel upon movement of said frames to or from each other.

5. In an extension table, the combination with two frames, one of which is movable to and from the other, slidably engaged members respectively carried by said frames, and guiding the latter in their relative move ment, and a spring tongue carried by one of said guiding members and bearing upon the other thereof, the latter being formed with an abutment engageable by said tongue pre venting disengagement of said guiding members.

6. In an extension table, a top section, a pair of members supporting said top section having channels opening toward each other, a pair of rails slidable in the channels of said supporting members, tracks carried by said rails within the channels thereof, a plurality of hingedly connected extension leaves jointly mounted upon and slidable on said tracks, said tracks being shaped to guide said leaves from a position below the level of said top section to a flush relation with said top section, the upper flange of one of said channel members having a depending marginal portion engaging the track within said channel member to guide the rail carrying said track in its sliding travel.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EMORY A. FULLER. 

